UAE Vs Afghanistan : Match Preview
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) will take on Afghanistan in the third match of the ongoing T20I Tri-series in Sharjah on 1 September 2025. The competition also features pakistan, who have already secured victories in their first two matches. That leaves both UAE and Afghanistan still searching for their first win.
This clash is therefore very important for both sides. A victory will not only boost confidence but also keep alive hopes of reaching the finals.
Overview
UAE showed some fight in their first match against Pakistan, scoring 176 while chasing 207. The innings was highlighted by a a brilliant knock from Asif khan , who smashed a quickfire 77 runs in 36 ball .
However, the middle order still lacks consistency and the bowlers struggled to contain pakistan aggressive batting. Junaid Siddique and Muhammad Jawadullah will have to lead from the front with the ball, while spinner Haider Ali Could Play a big role of the pitch offers turn.
On the other hand Afganistan, despite being a stronger side on paper, disappointed in their opening match. They were bowled out for 143 chasing pakistan 182 . Their batting lacked partnerships , with only Rahamanullah Gurbaz looking comfortable at the crease. The likes of Dawrish Rasooli will need to step up to give the innings stability. But at the end captain Rashid khan also play handy knock at the end 39 runs in 16 ball.
Where Afganistan hold a big advantage in their bowling Rashid khan , Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Noor Ahmad in the squad, they have a world class spin attack perfectly suited for sharjah conditions.
Head to Head
| Total Matches Played | 12 |
| AFG win | 9 |
| UAE win | 3 |
| No Results/ Tied | 0 |
Pitch Report
Sharjah’s wicket starts off offering some for the quicks with subtle swing and bounce under lights, but as game progresses pitch gets more grip and turn urn the ball or getting slow surface. Usually winning the toss and elected to bat first, aiming to capitalize early and post a challenging total , knowing that defending becomes easier once the pitch deteriorates.
predicted XIs
UAE: Muhammad Zohaib, Muhammad Waseem (c) , Asif khan, Alishan Sharafu, Rahul Chopra (Wk), Ethan D’Souza, Dhruv Parashar, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah, saghir Khan.
AFG: Rahmanullah Gurbaz(wk), Ibrahim Zadran,Sediquallah Atal, Dawrish Rasooli, Azmatullah omarzai, Mohammad Nabi , Karim Janat, Rashid khan (c), Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Fazalhaq Farooqi, Fareed Ahmad Ali.
Key Battle to Watch
- Muhammad Waseem vs Rashid khan: The UAE skipper will look to give a fast start , but facing Rashid inthe middle overs will be his biggest challenge.
- Asif khan: After his heroics against Pakistan, Afghanistan will surely target Asif with short ball and variations.
- Rahmanullah Gurbaz vs UAE New ball attack: Gurbaz can destroy bowling attacks if he survives in early overs. UAE pacers must find a way to dismiss him early
- spin Trio vs UAE middle order: Rashid, mujeeb and Noor will test UAE’s ability to rotate strike.
Match prediction
This promises to be an exciting contest. UAE are improving steadily and will rely on their batting firepower to post big total.
Afghanistan though remain favourites . Their spin trio is among best in the world and if their batting clicks, they should be to strong for UAE, still UAE can attack early and put Afganistan under pressure.
Disclaimer
The information provided in this article including match preview, predictions and opinions is intended solely for general informational and entertainment purposes, while every effort has been provided to ensure accuracy.cricket is unpredictable sports and actual results may be differ from what is expressed here. We do not guarantee the outcome of any matches and readers are advised not to rely on this content for betting or financial decisions.